Method of joining knitted fabrics and joined knitted fabric

ABSTRACT

When a first knitted fabric ( 6 ) and second and third knitted fabrics ( 4, 5 ) sandwiching the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) therebetween are knitted and then loops of final courses of the second and third knitted fabrics ( 4, 5 ) are laid over loops of the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) at side ends thereof sequentially from one side thereof closer to the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) toward the other side, to join together the first knitted fabric and the second and third knitted fabrics ( 4, 5 ), the second knitted fabric ( 4 ) and the third knitted fabric ( 5 ) are held on different needle beds arranged in front and back, respectively, and the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) and the third knitted fabric ( 5 ) are both shifted toward the second knitted fabric. Then, after the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) is switched between the front and back needle beds, the loops of the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side and the loops of the second knitted fabric ( 4 ) at a side end thereof are laid over each other and the loops of the third knitted fabric ( 5 ) at a side end thereof and the loops of the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) at a side end thereof on the third knitted fabric side are laid over each other. Thereafter, a yarn is fed to the first knitted fabric ( 6 ) to form loops of the next course. This knitting repeated can reduce the number of times for the loops of the knitted fabrics to be transferred between the front and back needle beds, so as to join together the knitted fabrics, as compared with the knitting wherein the moving of the knitted fabrics to be close to each other and the joining of the same can be provided solely by switching the knitted fabrics between the front and back needle beds by the loop transfer therebetween.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a knitted fabric joining methodfor forming machi (godets) at joints of tubular fabrics and to a joinedknitted fabric.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Knit goods have parts, called machi (godets), formed at jointsthereof. The machi are formed at underarms and crotches of the knitgoods, to add more profound or depth to knit goods of a two-dimensionalknitted fabric and produce the knit good suitable to one's figure andcomfortable to wear.

[0003] In the following, a known method for forming machi 103 a, 103 bin a sweater 101 in knitting on a knitting machine will be describedwith reference to FIG. 15. The sweater 101 comprises right and leftsleeves 104, 105 comprising front sleeves 104 a, 105 a and back sleeves104 b, 105 b and a body 106 comprising a front body 106 a and a backbody 106 b. In the step A, the body 106 is knitted from a rib 109, andthe sleeves 104, 105 are knitted from cuffs 111, 113 in the directionindicated by an arrow Q. In the step B, the right and left sleeves 104,105 and the body 106 are each independently knitted in a tubular formuntil the sleeves 104, 105 and the body 106 are joined together at theunderarms of the sweater 101. The right and left sleeves 104, 105 andthe body 106 are knitted up to the underarms at which they are abuttedwith each other, while their knitting widths are gradually increased. Inthe step C of the joining process for forming the machi (godets) 103 a,103 b, the yarn is fed shuttlewise to the sleeves 104, 105, and wheneveran appropriate number of courses are knitted in the sleeve 104, 105,each of the sleeves 104, 105 is shifted toward the body. Then, loops ofthe sleeves 104, 105 at their side ends on the body side are laid overloops of the body 106, and then loops of the next course are formed atthose double loops. Then, the newly formed loops are further laid overthe loops at the interior side thereof and the next loops at the sideends of the sleeves 104, 105. This knitting is repeated to form themachi 103 a, 103 b and the line ZY of the sleeve 104 and the line z-y ofthe body 106 are joined together. In the step D, after the completion offorming the machi 103 a, 103 b, the yarn is fed circularly to the rightand left sleeves 104, 105 and the body 106, and whenever an appropriatenumber of courses are knitted in the sleeve 104, 105, each of thesleeves 104, 105 is shifted toward the body to join together the lineY-X of the sleeve and the line y-x of the body 106. In the next step E,the yarn feed to the sleeves 104, 105 is stopped at the joints at whichthe upper end line X-W of the sleeves 104, 105 and the line x-w of thebody are joined together, and whenever an appropriate number of coursesare knitted in the body 106, each of the sleeves 104, 105 is shiftedtoward the body to join together the sleeves 104, 105 and the body 106.In the sweater 101 knitted in this manner, the sleeves 104, 105 arejoined to the body 106 in the step C, while the loops in the next courseare formed in the sleeves 104, 105. Thus, regions R are formed in thesleeves 104, 105, and the lines Z-Y of the sleeves 104, 105, and thelines z-y of the body are joined together. As a result of the sleevesand the body being joined together in this manner, when the sleeves 104,105 are rotated from the body 106 centered on the machi 103 a, 103 b andspread out therefrom, the sleeves 104, 105 cannot rotate further fromtheir right-angled intersection with the body, as shown in FIG. 16showing the top positions of the sleeves 104, 105 of the sweater 101.This causes a restraint on free motion of the human body when wearingand provides uncomfortableness to wear. For convenience of explanation,FIG. 16 shows the uppermost positions of sleeves 104, 105 when rotatedfrom the body 106, centered on the machi 103 a, 103 b, and spread out upto their top positions, without taking any account of their joiningrelation to the body 106.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to disclose a knittedfabric joining method wherein one tubular fabric to be joined to formthe machi can be allowed to rotate up to a larger angle than itsright-angled intersection with the other tubular fabric in the directionin which the distance between the both knitted fabrics increases, and aknitted fabric comprising tubular fabrics which are joined together insuch a manner that one tubular fabric can rotate up to a larger anglethan its right-angled intersection with the other tubular fabric in thedirection in which the distance between the both knitted fabricsincreases. It is another object of the present invention to discloseknitwear of a high degree of freedom of motion of the human body

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To accomplish the objects mentioned above, the present inventionprovides a knitted fabric joining method for knitting at least twotubular fabrics, each comprising front and back knitted fabric partsopposite to each other in front and back, and joining together the atleast two tubular fabrics in an overlapping relation by using a flatknitting machine comprising at least a pair of first and second needlebeds, which are extended laterally and confront each other in front andback; each of which has a large number of needles; and at least eitherof which can be racked laterally to transfer loops between the front andback needle beds, the method comprising a knitted fabric joining stepthat loops of a final course in a joining region of a tubular fabric tobe joined, which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at aside end portion thereof, and loops of a final course in a joiningregion of another tubular fabric are laid over each other in such arelation that the loops located at near side from a boundary between thefront knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combinedwith each other and the loops located at far side therefrom are combinedwith each other, so as to be bound off, whereby a machi is formed at ajoining point of the two tubular fabrics, and an integrated tubularfabric is knitted continuously from that joined tubular fbric.

[0006] The knitted fabric joining method of the present invention maycomprise the steps:

[0007] a) that in the process of knitting first and second knittedfabrics in a half-gauge knitting and joining together those knittedfabrics, one of first and second needle beds is racked in a firstdirection with respect to the other needle bed and then a loop of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the second needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabricat a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the second knittedfabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, istransferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at the sideend thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting beingrepeated, whereby the first knitted fabric is made to circle in thefirst direction so that the loops in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed,

[0008] b) that the one needle bed is racked in the first direction andthen a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof on thefirst knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needlebed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric ata side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loop of thesecond knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end onthe first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the firstneedle bed, is transferred to outside of the loop of the second knittedfabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed, thisknitting being repeated, whereby the second knitted fabric is made tocircle in the first direction so that the loops in the joining region ofthe second knitted fabric can all be retained on the first needle bed,

[0009] c) that the loops of the first knitted fabric are all retained onthe first needle bed; the loops of the second knitted fabric are allretained on the second needle bed; after the one needle bed is racked inthe first direction so that a loop in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric and a loop in the joining region of the second knittedfabric can correspond in position to each other in front and back, theloops in the joining regions of the first and second knitted fabrics arelaid over each other so as to be bound off, and

[0010] d) that the one needle bed is racked in the second direction andthen a loop of the tubular fabric into which the first knitted fabricand the second knitted fabric are joined and which is retained on thesecond needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubularfabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loopof the tubular fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end onthe first needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubularfabric at a side end thereof on the second needle bed, whereby thetubular fabric is made to circle in the second direction opposite to thefirst direction.

[0011] The knitted fabric joining method of the present invention maycomprise the steps:

[0012] a) that the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabricis transferred to the second needle bed and the back knitted fabric partof the second knitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed,

[0013] b) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needlebed is racked in a lateral direction, loops in the joining region of thefront knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric are sequentiallylaid over loops of the front knitted fabric part of the second knittedfabric at a side end thereof, in parallel with loops in the joiningregion of the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabricbeing bound off in the direction of being away from the first knittedfabric, and

[0014] c) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needlebed is racked in the lateral direction, loops in the joining region ofthe back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric aresequentially laid over loops of the back knitted fabric part of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof, in parallel with loops inthe joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the first knittedfabric being bound off in the direction of being away from the secondknitted fabric, whereby the first knitted fabric and the second knittedfabric are joined together.

[0015] 4. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, whichcomprises the steps:

[0016] a) that the first knitted fabric, the second knitted fabric and athird knitted fabric are knitted in such a relation that the firstknitted fabric can be positioned between the second and third knittedfabrics, and the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabricis transferred to the first needle bed and the back knitted fabric partof the third knitted fabric is transferred to the second needle bed,

[0017] b) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needlebed is racked in a first direction, the knitting wherein loops in thejoining region of the front knitted fabric part of the first knittedfabric on the second knitted fabric side are bound off in the directionof being away from the second knitted fabric and the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of thesecond knitted fabric and loops of the front knitted fabric part of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other areperformed in parallel, and the knitting wherein loops in the joiningregion of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric onthe third knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of beingaway from the third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in thejoining region of the back knitted fabric part of the third knittedfabric and loops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knittedfabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed inparallel,

[0018] c) that the back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabricis transferred to the second needle bed and the front knitted fabricpart of the third knitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed,and

[0019] d) that while the either needle bed is racked in a seconddirection, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the backknitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the second knittedfabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the secondknitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region ofthe back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric and loops ofthe back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side endthereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, and theknitting wherein loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabricpart of the first knitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side arebound off in the direction of being away from the third knitted fabricand the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knittedfabric part of the third knitted fabric and loops of the front knittedfabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laidover each other performed in parallel at both ends of the first knittedfabric.

[0020] The knitted fabric joining method of the present invention maycomprise the steps:

[0021] a) that one of first and second needle beds is racked in a firstdirection with respect to the other needle bed and then a loop of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the second needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabricat a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the second knittedfabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, istransferred to outside of the loop located at the side end of the firstknitted fabric retained on the first needle bed, this knitting beingrepeated, so that the first knitted fabric is made to circle in thefirst direction so that the loops in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed,

[0022] b) that the one needle bed is racked in the second direction andthen a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof on thefirst knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needlebed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric ata side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of thesecond knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end onthe first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the secondneedle bed, is transferred to outside of the loop located at the sideend of the second knitted fabric retained on the first needle bed, thisknitting being repeated, so that the second knitted fabric is made tocircle in the second direction so that the loops in the joining regionof the second knitted fabric can all be retained on the second needlebed,

[0023] c) that while either of front and back needle beds is racked inthe first direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region ofthe first knitted fabric are bound off in the direction of being awayfrom the second knitted fabric, and the knitting wherein loops in thejoining region of the second knitted fabric and loops of the firstknitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bedare laid over each other are performed to join together the joiningregion of the second knitted fabric and the joining region of the firstknitted fabric, and

[0024] d) that while the either needle bed is racked in the seconddirection, a loop of the first knitted fabric retained on the firstneedle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knittedfabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed, and aloop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on thesecond needle bed is transferred to outside of the loop of the firstknitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed,this knitting being repeated, whereby the tubular fabric is made tocircle in the first direction.

[0025] The knitted fabric joining method of the present invention maycomprise the steps:

[0026] a) that the first knitted fabric, the second knitted fabric and athird knitted fabric are knitted in such a relation that the firstknitted fabric can be positioned between the second and third knittedfabrics; and after one needle bed is racked in a first direction withrespect to the other needle bed, a loop of the first knitted fabric at aside end thereof on the second knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loopof the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the firstneedle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofon the third knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the firstneedle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knittedfabric at a side thereof on the third knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the second needle bed, this knitting being repeated, wherebythe first knitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction sothat the loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on thesecond knitted fabric side can be retained on the first needle bed andthe loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the thirdknitted fabric side can be retained on the second needle bed,

[0027] b) that after the needle bed is racked in a second direction, theknitting (i) wherein a loop in a joining region of the second knittedfabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, whichloop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside ofa loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained onthe first needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabric at a sideend thereof opposite to the first knitted fabric, which loop is retainedon the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of thesecond knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the secondneedle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the second knittedfabric is made to circle in the second direction so that the loops inthe joining region of the second knitted fabric can be retained on thefirst needle bed; and the knitting (ii) wherein a loop in a joiningregion of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the firstknitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, istransferred to outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric at a sideend thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of the thirdknitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the first knittedfabric, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferredto outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, wherebythe third knitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction sothat the loops in the joining region of the third knitted fabric can beretained on the second needle bed are performed in parallel,

[0028] c) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needlebed is racked in the first direction, the knitting wherein loops in thejoining region of the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabricside are bound off in the direction of being away from the secondknitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region ofthe second knitted fabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at aside end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, andthe knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the first knittedfabric on the third knitted fabric side are bound off in the directionof being away from the third knitted fabric and the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the third knitted fabric and loops of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other areperformed in parallel, and

[0029] d) that while the either needle bed is racked in the seconddirection, the knitting wherein a loop of the tubular fabric at a sideend thereof retained on the first needle bed, the tubular fabric beingformed by joining together the first, second and third knitted fabrics,is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side endthereof retained on the second bed, and a loop of the tubular fabric ata side end thereof retained on the second needle bed is transferred tooutside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retainedon the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby thetubular fabric is made to circle in the second direction.

[0030] In the knitted fabric joining method of the present invention,the joining of the joining regions of the front knitted fabric part andthe joining of the joining regions of the back knitted fabric part maybe performed independently and a circle knitting wherein a loop of theknitted fabric having a larger number of loops retained on either of theneedle beds is transferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabricretained on the opposite needle bed may be performed in parallel withthe joining knitting.

[0031] In the knitted fabric joining method of the present invention,the joining between the first knitted fabric and the second knittedfabric and the joining between the first knitted fabric and the thirdknitted fabric and/or the joining of the front knitted fabric parts andthe joining of the back knitted fabrics may be performed independentlyand a circle knitting wherein a loop of the knitted fabric having alarger number of loops retained on either of the needle beds istransferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabric retained on theopposite needle bed may be performed in parallel with the joiningknitting.

[0032] In the knitted fabric joining method of the present invention,the number of loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabricpart and the number of loops in the joining region of the back knittedfabric may be made different from each other.

[0033] Also, the present invention provides a knitted fabric formed byjoining together at least two tubular fabrics, each comprising front andback knitted fabric parts knitted opposite to each other in front andback, by using a flat knitting machine comprising at least a pair offirst and second needle beds, which are extended laterally and confronteach other in front and back; each of which has a large number ofneedles; and at least either of which can be racked laterally totransfer loops between the front and back needle beds, wherein loops ofa final course in a joining region of a tubular fabric to be joined,which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at a side endportion thereof, and loops of a final course in a joining region ofanother tubular fabric are laid over each other in such a relation thatthe loops located at near side from a boundary between the front knittedfabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combined with eachother and the loops located at far side therefrom are combined with eachother, and are bound off, whereby a machi is formed in the knittedfabric and an integrated tubular fabric knitted continuously from thatjoined tubular fabric.

[0034] In the knitted fabric of the present invention, the at least twotubular fabrics may be in the form of a right leg part and a left legpart of a legwear.

[0035] In the knitted fabric of the present invention, the at least twotubular fabrics may be in the form of a body and right and left sleevesof a sweater.

[0036] Now, operation of the present invention will be described.

[0037] According to the present invention, in the process for knittingat least two tubular fabrics and joining together them, the loops of thefinal course in the joining region of the tubular fabric to be joined,which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at a side endportion thereof, and the loops of the final course in the joining regionof another tubular fabric are laid over each other in such a relationthat the loops located at near side from the boundary between the frontknitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combined witheach other and the loops located at far side therefrom are combined witheach other, so as to be bound off, whereby the at least two tubularfabrics are joined together. According to one method for joiningtogether the tubular fabrics, the tubular fabrics knitted in thehalf-gauge knitting are made to circle in the same direction in thecircle knitting as mentioned later, whereby the loops in the joiningregions of both front and back knitted fabric parts of one tubularfabric are retained on the front needle bed and the loops of anothertubular fabric are retained on the back needle bed, so that the loops ofthe joining regions of the both knitted fabrics are bound off at thesame time. In this joining method, the joining of the joining regions ofthe front knitted fabric part and the joining region of the back knittedfabric part are performed sequentially.

[0038] In another method for joining together the tubular fabrics, theknitting wherein one knitted fabric to be joined is bound off from oneside end thereof toward the other end thereof and the knitting whereinthe loops in the joining regions of another tubular fabric are laid overeach other from a side end thereof in such a relation that the frontknitted fabric parts are combined with each other and the back knittedfabric parts are combined with each other are performed concurrently. Inthis joining method, the knitting wherein the loops in the joiningregions are laid over each other and the knitting for the bind-offprocess are performed concurrently, while the joining of the joiningregions of the front knitted part and the joining of the joining regionsof the back knitted part are performed independently.

[0039] In still another joining method, the tubular fabrics to be joinedtogether are made to circle in the opposite direction in the circleknitting so that the loops in the joining regions of both tubularfabrics are retained on the same needle bed and, thereafter, one knittedfabric to be joined is bound off from one side end portion thereoftoward the other end and the loops in the joining region of anothertubular fabric are laid over each other and joined to each other from aloop at the side end in such a relation that the front knitted fabricparts are combined with each other and the back knitted fabric parts arecombined with each other. In this knitting method, the knitting whereinthe loops in the joining regions are laid over each other and theknitting for the bind-off process are performed in parallel, while thejoining of the joining regions of the front knitted parts and thejoining of the joining regions of the back knitted parts are performedin sequence.

[0040] In the case where difference in the number of loops retained onthe needle beds is produced, for example, by the joining of the frontknitted fabric part and the body part and the joining of the backknitted fabric part and the body part being performed in a sequentialorder or by three or more tubular fabrics being joined together in sucha manner that the joining of each pair of opposing tubular fabrics areperformed independently, a loop of the knitted fabric having a largernumber of loops retained on either of the needle beds is transferred tooutside of a loop of the knitted fabric at a side end thereof retainedon the opposite needle bed in the circle knitting, to prevent wideningof difference in the number of loops retained on the both needle beds,for the knitting for joining together the knitted fabrics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041]FIG. 1 shows a development of a sweater in which machi are formedand a knitting process drawing of the same.

[0042]FIG. 2 is a completion drawing of the sweater 1 of FIG. 1.

[0043]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the knitting steps of the firstembodiment for forming the machi in the sweater.

[0044]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a circle knitting.

[0045]FIG. 5-a is diagram illustrating the knitting steps of the secondembodiment for forming the machi in a short pant; and FIGS. 5-b and 5-cdiagrams illustrating the knitting steps of the second embodiment forforming the machi in the sweater.

[0046]FIG. 6 shows the short pant formed by two knitted fabrics beingjoined together in the second embodiment.

[0047]FIG. 7 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthe two knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthe two knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0049]FIG. 9 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthree knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0050]FIG. 10 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthree knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0051]FIG. 11 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthe three knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0052]FIG. 12 shows the knitting course diagram showing the joining ofthe three knitted fabrics in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0053]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the knitting steps of the thirdembodiment for forming the machi in the sweater.

[0054]FIG. 14 is a drawing showing the upper limit positions of thesleeves of the sweater in which the machi of the present invention areformed.

[0055]FIG. 15 shows a development of the sweater in which conventionalmachi are formed and a knitting process drawing of the same.

[0056]FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the upper limit positions of thesleeves of the sweater in which the machi are formed in the conventionalknitting method.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0057] In the following, certain preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the embodiment mentioned below, a two-bed flat knittingmachine is used wherein front and back needle beds, each having a largenumber of needles arranged in series thereon, are disposed to confronteach other and the back needle bed is so structured as to be rackedlaterally so that the stitch transfer can be made between the front andback needle beds. In another embodiment, a four-bed flat knittingmachine mentioned later is used wherein upper front needle bed and upperback needle bed, each having a large number of needles arranged inseries at the same pitches as in the lower needle beds, are disposedover the lower front needle bed and lower back needle bed, respectively,and which is structured so that the stitch transfer can be made betweenthe lower front needle bed and the lower back needle bed and between theconfronting lower and upper needle beds. In either of the embodiments,the flat knitting machine used is structured so that the back needle bedcan be racked laterally relative to the front needle bed.

[0058]FIG. 1 shows a development of a sweater 1 in which machi 3 a, 3 bare formed at underarms 2 a, 2 b in the knitted fabric joining method ofthis embodiment and a knitting process drawing of the same. FIG. 2 is acompletion drawing of the sweater 1 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the directionof wale of sleeves 4, 5 and the direction of wale of a body 6 are shownaround the machi 3 a, 3 b. In the step A, the knitting of the sweater 1starts from the rib 7 of the body 6 and the cuffs 8, 9 of the both rightand left sleeves 4, 5. In the step B, the sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6are each knitted in the form of an independent tubular fabric beforethey are joined together at the underarms 2 a, 2 b. In the step C, afterthe sleeves 4, 5 are knitted up to the lines I-O and M-P, the line I-Hof the right sleeve 4 and the line i-h of the body 6 are joined togetherand the line M-L of the left sleeve 5 and the line m-l of the body 6 arejoined together in the joining step, to form the machi 3 a, 3 b thereat.In the next step D, while the right and left sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6are knitted in the form of a single tubular fabric, the sleeves 4, 5 areshifted toward the body 6, so that the line G-H of the right sleeve 4and the g-h of the body 6 are joined together and the line L-K of theleft sleeve and the line 1-k of the body are joined together. In thestep E in which the line F-G of the right sleeve 4 and the line f-g ofthe body 6 are joined together and the line J-K of the left sleeve 5 andthe line j-k of the body 6 are joined together, the feed of the yarn tothe sleeves 4, 5 is ended, and whenever an appropriate number of coursesare knitted in the body 6, each of the sleeves 4, 5 is shifted towardthe body 6, so that the sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6 are joined together.After the completion of joining together the sleeves 4, 5 and the body6, the front body 6 a having a collar opening 10 formed therein and theback body 6 b are joined together at right and left shoulders 11 a, 11b, so as to bring the sweater 1 to completion. In the following, threedifferent methods for forming the machi 3 a, 3 b in joining together thesleeves 4, 5 and the body 6 will be recited as Examples 1 to 3. As theknitting processes are all known, except the joining process, only thejoining process will be discussed here.

First Embodiment

[0059] The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.The first embodiment provides the method in which a tubular fabricknitted in the half gauge knitting is made to circle in the samedirection in the circle knitting as defined later, whereby loops in bothjoining regions of one of the front and back knitted fabrics of thetubular fabric which are retained on the front needle bed and loops inboth joining regions of the other of the front and back knitted fabricsof the tubular fabric which are retained on the back needle bed are laidover each other and also bound off concurrently. In the firstembodiment, the joining of the joining regions of the front knittedfabric and the joining of the joining regions of the back knitted fabricare performed sequentially. In the first embodiment, a two-bed flatknitting machine is used for the half gauge knitting wherein the needlesused for the front knitted fabric comprising a front body 6 a, a frontright sleeve 4 a and a front left sleeve 5 a and the needles used forthe back knitted fabric comprising a back body 6 b, a back right sleeve4 b and a back left sleeve 5 b are arranged alternately so that thefront knitted fabric and the back knitted fabric can be formed with thealternately arranged needles. In the half gauge knitting, when the frontknitted fabric is knitted, the back knitted fabric is retained on(associated with) the back needle bed, while on the other hand, when theback knitted fabric is knitted, the front knitted fabric is associatedwith the front needle bed, so that the knitted fabrics are knitted inthe state in which they are placed opposite in front and back. As thedetails about the half gauge knitting is disclosed, for example, byJapanese Patent Publication No. Hei 3 (1991)-75656, further detailsabout the half gauge knitting is omitted. This half gauge knitting canprovide the result that empty needles for transfer of loops of theknitted fabrics can always be reserved for the respective knittedfabrics on the opposed needle beds. The use of the empty needles enablesthe knitting of the structure pattern in which front stitches and backstitches are mixed, such as links, garter and rib, and also enables theloops of the sleeves and bodies to be shifted laterally to be joined toeach other.

[0060] The joining method of the first embodiment can be used to knitleg wears comprising two tubular fabrics joined, such as pants andtights, and knit items comprising three joined tubular fabrics joined,such as sweater. In the following, the joining of the three tubularfabrics will be described, taking the sweater 1 of FIG. 1 for example.

[0061] The step 0 of FIG. 3 illustrates the state in which the body 6 isknitted up to the line i-m; the right sleeve 4 is knitted up to the lineO-I; and the left sleeve 5 is knitted up to the line P-M. The frontknitted fabric is depicted by a bold line, and the back knitted fabricis depicted by a thin line. The front knitted fabric comprising thefront body 6 a, the front right sleeve 4 a and the front left sleeve 5 aand the back knitted fabric comprising the back body 6 b, the back rightbody 4 b and the back left body 5 b are retained on the front and backneedle beds, respectively. The alphabets in FIG. 3 correspond to thealphabets at the points of the sweater of FIG. 1. The points on the backknitted fabric is labeled (B).

[0062] In the step C of the joining process for forming the machi 3 a, 3b, after the back needle bed is racked leftward in the step 0-1 of FIG.3, the loops of the front body 6 a, front right sleeve 4 a and frontleft sleeve 5 a at the right side ends thereof are transferred to theempty needles of the back needle bed located at the outside of the loopsof the back knitted fabric at the side ends thereof. Similarly, theloops of the back knitted fabric comprising the back body 6 b, backright sleeve 4 b and back left sleeve 5 b at the left side ends thereofare transferred to the empty needles of the front needle bed located atthe outside of the loops of the front knitted fabric at the side endsthereof. Subsequently, whenever the back needle bed is further rackedleftward at a proper pitch, the loops of the front knitted fabric at theright side end are transferred to the back needle bed and the loops ofthe back knitted fabric at the left side end are transferred to thefront needle bed. Then, the body 6 and the right and left sleeves 4, 5are rotated a required distance in the counterclockwise direction, forthe circle knitting. As a result of this circle knitting, the loops inthe joining region of the left sleeve 5 are all retained on the frontneedle bed; the loops in the joining region of the right sleeve 4 areretained on the back needle bed; and the loops in the joining region ofthe body 6 on the left sleeve side and the loops in the region of thebody 6 on the right sleeve side are retained on the back needle bed andthe front needle bed, respectively. It should be noted that theterminology of “the circle knitting” used herein is intended to mean theknitting way in which a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end portionthereof retained on one of the beds is transferred to outside of a loopof the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the oppositeneedle bed so that the knitted fabrics can be made to circle in theclockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction. Descriptionwill be given of the circle knitting, with reference to FIG. 4illustrating the knitting of the left sleeve 5. In the course 0 of FIG.4 which shows the state of the step 0 of FIG. 3, the loops of the frontleft sleeve 5 a are retained on alternate needles of the front needlebed and the loops of the back left sleeve 5 b are retained on alternateneedles of the back needle bed in such a relation that the phase of theback left sleeve 5 b is shifted one needle pitch with respective to thephase of the front left sleeve 5 a. The loops 13, 14 in the two wale ofthe front left sleeve 5 a at the left side and the loops 15, 16 in thetwo wale of the back left sleeve 5 b at the left side correspond to theloops in the joining regions. In the course 1, the back needle bed isracked leftward three pitches and, then, in the course 2, the loop 15 ofthe back left sleeve 5 b at the left end is transferred to the frontneedle bed and the loop 17 of the front left sleeve 5 a at the right endis transferred to the back needle bed. Subsequently, in the course 3,the back needle bed is further racked leftward four pitches and, then,in the course 4, the loop 16 at the left end retained on the back needlebed is transferred to the front needle bed and the loop 18 at the rightend retained on the front needle bed is transferred to the back needlebed. As a result of this, the state of the course 5 is presented. Thecourse 5 represents the left sleeve 5 in the step 1 of FIG. 3. The leftsleeve 5 starts circling in the counterclockwise direction from the step0 until the loops 13-16 in the joining regions are retained on theneedles of the front needle bed.

[0063] Then, in the step 2 of FIG. 3, the loops of the front left sleeve5 a are all transferred to the empty needles of the back needle bed; theloops of the back body 6 b are all transferred to the empty needles ofthe front needle bed; and the loops of the back right sleeve 4 bretained on the back needle bed are all transferred to the front needlebed, so that the left sleeve 5 is retained on the back needle bed andthe right sleeve 4 and the body 6 are retained on the front needle bed.Then, the back needle bed is racked in the leftward direction in whichthe left sleeve 5 comes near to the body 6, so that the joining regionof the front left sleeve 5 a is placed opposite to the joining region ofthe body 6 on its left sleeve side. Thereafter, the loops in the bothjoining regions are laid over each other to form a double loop. In thestep 3, a yarn is fed to the needle retaining the double loop thereonfrom one end of the double loop toward the other end of the same, toform a new loop of the next course. Then, this newly formed loop is laidover the next double loop to form a triple loop. Subsequently, the yarnis fed to the triple loop to form a new loop of the next course.Further, this newly formed loop is laid over the next double loop. Thisknitting is repeated to prevent loosening of loops in the joiningregions, which is called the bind-off process. Thereafter, the loops arereleased from the needles. The machi 3 b is brought to completion inthis manner. As the bind-off process is already known from theapplicant's early application and others, the detailed descriptionthereon is omitted. In the next step 4, after the loops of the body 6retained on the front needle bed are all transferred to the back needlebed, the back needle bed is further racked leftward, so that the joiningregion of the right sleeve 4 is placed opposite to the joining region ofthe body 6 on its right sleeve 4 side and the loops in the both joiningregions are laid over each other. In the next step 5, the double loopsin the joining regions of the left sleeve 5 and the body 6 are bound offand, thereafter, the loops are released from the needles. The machi 3 ais brought to completion in this manner. As a result of this, the rightand left sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6 are knitted into one piece. In thenext step 6, the loops at the right side end of the tubular fabricformed by combining the right and left sleeves 4, 5 with the body 6 aretransferred to the empty needles of the front needle bed in the reverseorder to the order from the step 0 to the step 1. Then, the loops at theleft side end of the tubular fabric are transferred to the empty needlesof the back needle bed. Then, whenever the back needle bed is rackedrightward a proper pitch, the clockwise circle knitting in which theloop at the right side end of the tubular fabric is transferred to thefront needle bed and the loop at the left side end of the tubular fabricis transferred to the front needle bed is performed until the boundariesO, P between the front body 6 a and the back body 6 b reach both ends ofthe fabric. Subsequently, the knitting in the step D and the subsequentstep of FIG. 1 is performed to knit the sweater 1. It should be notedthat in the case where two knitted fabrics are joined together, theknitting processes mentioned above may skip over the steps 4 and 5 tothe step 6 from the step 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 6and the sleeves 4, 5 are made to circle in the counterclockwisedirection from the step 0 to the step 1 and the tubular fabric formed bycombining the right and left sleeves 4, 5 with the body 6 is made tocircle in the clockwise direction from the step 5 to the step 6. Thisembodiment may be modified so that the body 6 and the sleeves 4, 5 maybe made to circle in the clockwise direction from the step 0 to the step1 and the tubular fabric may be made to circle in the counterclockwisedirection from the step 5 to the step 6. In the illustrated embodiment,the number of loops in the machi formed in the front knitted fabric andthe number of loops in the machi formed in the back knitted fabric areidentical with each other. The number of loops in the machi formed inthe front knitted fabric and the number of loops in the machi formed inthe back knitted fabric may be made different from each other.

Second Embodiment

[0064] The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.5-12. The second embodiment provides the method in which the knittingprocess in which one knitted fabric to be joined is subjected to thebind-off process is performed from one side end thereof toward the otherside end and the knitting process in which the loops in the joiningregion of another knitted fabric of the tubular fabric are sequentiallylaid over the loops in the joining region of the one knitted fabric froma side end thereof in such a manner that a front knitted fabric part ofthe one knitted fabric and a front knitted fabric part of anotherknitted fabric are overlapped with each other and a back knitted fabricpart of the one knitted fabric and a back knitted fabric part of anotherknitted fabric are overlapped with each other proceed concurrently. Inthe second embodiment, the knitting process in which the loops in thejoining regions are laid over each other and the bind-off processproceed concurrently, and the process for joining together the adjacentjoining regions of the front knitted fabric parts and the process forjoining together the adjacent joining regions of the back knitted fabricparts proceed independently.

[0065] In the second embodiment, a four-bed flat knitting machine isused for the joining method of the invention, though the two-bed flatknitting machine can be used therefor by doing the half gauge knitting.In the second embodiment, two different knitting processes are taken forthe process for joining together two knitted fabrics and the process forjoining together three knitted fabrics, respectively. These knittingprocesses will be outlined with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5-aillustrates the knitting process for joining together the two knittedfabrics; FIGS. 5-b and 5-c illustrate the knitting process for joiningtogether the three knitted fabrics. In the process for joining togetherthe two knitted fabrics, the knitting X wherein a front part 21 a of afirst knitted fabric 21 is moved to a front part 22 a of a secondknitted fabric 22, for the joining process; and the knitting W wherein aback part 22 b of the second knitted fabric 22 is moved to a back part21 b of the first knitted fabric 21, for the joining process, are takento form the machi 3 a, 3 b. The knitting W and the knitting X mayproceed concurrently or sequentially. In the case where the knitting Wand the knitting X proceed concurrently, the number of times for thebeds to be racked can be reduced, thus providing the advantage ofproviding the effective knitting. In the case where the knitting W andthe knitting X proceed sequentially, the number of loops in the machi ofthe front knitted fabric and the number of loops in the machi of theback knitted fabric can be made different. In the latter case, thecircle knitting may proceed in such a manner that the loops at the sideend of the knitted fabric having an increased number of loops may betransferred to the outside of the loop located at the side end of theopposed knitted fabric to erase the difference in number of loopsbetween the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part.

[0066] In the process for joining together the three knitted fabrics,the knitting W wherein a back part 32 b of a second knitted fabric 32 ismoved to a back part 31 b of a first knitted fabric 31, for the joiningprocess; the knitting X wherein a front part 33 a of a third knittedfabric 33 is moved to a back part 31 b of the first knitted fabric 31,for the joining process; the knitting Y wherein a front part 32 a of thesecond knitted fabric 32 is moved to a front part 31 a of the firstknitted fabric 31, for the joining process; and the knitting Z wherein aback part 33 b of the third knitted fabric 33 is moved to the front part31 a of the first knitted fabric 31, for the joining process, are takento form the machi 3 a, 3 b. In the knitting W-Z, the knitting W-X andthe knitting Y-Z may proceed in parallel with each other or the knittingW-Z may proceed in random order. In the case where the knitting W-Xproceed in parallel, first, and, then, the knitting Y and Z proceed inparallel, or vice versa, the number of times for the beds to be rackedcan be reduced, thus providing the advantage of providing the effectiveknitting. In the case where the knitting proceeds in the descendentorder of W-Z, the number of loops in the machi of the front knittedfabric and the number of loops in the machi of the back knitted fabriccan be made different. In the latter case, the same circle knitting asthe circle knitting for joining the two knitted fabric may proceed toerase the difference in number of loops between the front knitted fabricpart and the back knitted fabric part.

[0067] In the following, the knitting for joining together the twoknitted fabrics will be described with reference to the knitting coursediagrams of FIGS. 7-8, taking the knitting of shorts 41 shown in FIG. 6for instance. In this embodiment, the knitting process of FIG. 5-awherein the knitting W-X proceed in parallel is described. The shorts41, which comprises a right leg part 42, a left leg part 43 and a bodypart 44, has the machi 45 a, 45 b formed at a joining point between theright leg part 42 and the body part and at a joining point between theleft leg part 43 and the body part. The right leg part 42 corresponds tothe second knitted fabric 22 of FIG. 5-a and the left leg part 43corresponds to the first knitted fabric 21 of FIG. 5-a. The course 0 ofFIG. 7 illustrates the state before the start of forming the machi 45 a,45 b. In this state, the right leg part 42 indicated by white circlesand the left leg part 43 indicated by black circles are adjacent to eachother. The loops on a front lower needle bed surrounded with a chainline 45 a are the loops in the joining regions of the front knittedfabric part in which the machi 45 a is formed, and the loops on a backlower needle bed surrounded with a chain line 45 b are the loops in thejoining regions of the back knitted fabric part in which the machi 45 bis formed. In FIGS. 7-8, the numerals at the left side indicate theserial number of the courses. FU denotes a front upper needle bed; FDdenotes a front lower needle bed; BD denotes a back lower needle bed;and BU denotes a back upper needle bed. A dashed line S indicates aboundary between the right leg part 42 and the left leg part 43 beforethe start of forming the machi 45 a, 45 b. In the course 1, loops of afront left leg part 43 a are transferred to the back upper needle bed BUand loops of a back right leg part 42 b are all transferred to the frontupper needle bed FU, except a loop of the right leg part 42 at a sideend thereof on the left leg part 43 side. In the course 2, after theback needle bed is racked leftward one pitch, a loop 46 of the frontright leg part 42 a at a side end thereof on the left leg part 43 sideis laid over a loop 47 of the front left leg part 42 a at a side endthereof on the right leg part 42 side located on the back upper needlebed BU, to form a double loop 48. In the course 3, after the back needlebed is further racked leftward one pitch, the double loop 48 istransferred to the front lower needle bed FD and is laid over a loop ofthe right leg part 42 at the side end on the left leg 43 side, to form atriple loop 49. In the course 4, after the back needle bed is rackedrightward one pitch, a loop 50 of the back right leg 42 b at the sideend on the left leg 43 side retained on the back lower needle bed BD istransferred to the front upper needle bed FU to form a double loop 51.In the next course 5, after the back needle bed is racked leftward onepitch, the double loop 51 is laid over a loop 52 of the left back legpart 43 at the side end on the right leg 42 side retained on the backlower bed, to form a triple loop 53. In the course 6, the yarn is fed tothe triple loop 49 via the yarn feeder 54 to form a loop 55 of the nextcourse. In the course 7, a yarn is fed to the triple loop 53 via anotheryarn feeder 56 to form a loop 57 of the next course.

[0068] In the courses 8 to 14, the same knitting processes as those inthe courses 2 to 7 are taken for another target loop. In the nextcourses 15 to 17, the same knitting processes as those in the courses 2to 4 are taken. In the course 18, the double loop 58 is laid over a loop59 of the left back leg part 43 b at the side end, to form a triple loop60 and also the loops of the back right leg part 52 b retained on thefront upper needle bed and the loops of the back left leg part 43 bretained on the back upper needle bed BU are transferred to the backlower needle bed and the front lower needle bed FD, respectively. Themachi 45 a, 45 b are brought to completion in this manner. In theknitted processes mentioned above, the front left leg part 43 a is laidover the loops of the front right leg part 42 a, to form the machi 45 aat the left side of the fabric, and the back right leg part 42 b is laidover the loops of the back left leg part 43 b, to form the machi 45 b atthe right side of the fabric.

[0069] Next, the knitting process for joining together three tubularfabrics to form the machi 3 a, 3 b in the sweater 1 of FIG. 1 will bedescribed with reference to the knitting course diagrams of FIGS. 9-12.In this embodiment, the knitting W and X of FIGS. 5-b and 5-c proceed inparallel, first, and, then, the knitting Y and Z proceed in parallel.The course 0 illustrates the state before the start of forming the machi3 a, 3 b. A dashed line T indicates a boundary between the body 6 andthe right sleeve 4 before the start of forming the machi 3 a, 3 b, and adashed line U indicates a boundary between the body 6 and the leftsleeve 5 before the start of forming the machi. The loops on the leftside surrounded with a chain line 3 a are the loops in the joiningregions in which the machi 3 a is formed, and the loops on the rightside surrounded with a chain line 3 b are the loops in the joiningregions in which the machi 3 b is formed. In the course 1 in which theforming of the machi 3 b is started, the back right sleeve 4 b istransferred to the front upper needle bed FU and at the same time thefront left sleeve 5 a is transferred to the back upper needle bed BU. Inthe course 2, a loop 61 of the back body 6 b at a side end thereof onthe right sleeve 4 side is transferred to the front upper needle bed FUand a loop 62 of the front body 6 a at a side end thereof on the leftsleeve 5 side is transferred to the back upper needle bed BU. In thenext course 3, after the back needle bed is racked leftward one pitch,the loop 61 of the back body 6 b at the side end is transferred to theback lower needle bed BD and is laid over a loop of the back body 6 b atan inside thereof, to form a double loop 63. In parallel with this, theloop 62 of the front body 6 a at the side end is transferred to thefront lower needle bed FD and is laid over a loop of the front body atan inside thereof, to form a double loop 64. In the course 4, after theback needle bed is further racked leftward one pitch, a loop 65 of theback right sleeve 4 b at a side end thereof on the body side istransferred to the back lower needle bed and is laid over the doubleloop 63 to form a triple loop 66. In parallel with this, a loop 67 ofthe front left sleeve 5 a at a side end thereof on the body side istransferred to the front needle bed and is laid over the double loop 64to form a triple loop 68. In the next course 5, a yarn is fed to thetriple loop 68 via a yarn feeder 69 to form a loop of the next course,and a yarn is fed to the triple loop 66 via a yarn feeder 70 to form aloop of the next course. In the courses 1 to 6, the knitting for theback body 6 b to be bound off in the direction of being away from theright sleeve 4 and for joining together the back right sleeve 4 b andthe back body 6 b and the knitting for the front body 6 a to be boundoff in the direction of being away from the left sleeve 5 and forjoining together the front left sleeve 5 a and the front body 6 a areperformed in parallel. Subsequently, this knitting is repeated a propernumber of times according to the widths of the machi 3 a, 3 b formed. Asa result of this, the machi 3 a, 3 b are formed through which the frontbody 6 a and the front left sleeve 5 a are joined together and the backbody 6 b and the back right sleeve 4 b are joined together. In thecourses 7 to 8, the same knitting processes as those in the courses 2 to3 are taken. In the course 9, when the joining of the front body 6 a andthe front left sleeve 5 a and the joining of the back body 6 b and theback right sleeve 4 b are both completed, the back right sleeve 4 bretained on the front upper needle bed FU is transferred back to theback lower needle bed BD and, at the same time, the front left sleeve 5a retained on the back upper needle bed BU is transferred back to thefront lower needle bed FD. After this manner, the knitting of FIG. 5-bis completed. In the course 10, the yarn is fed to the front body 6 avia the yarn feeder 69, and in the course 11, the yarn is fed to theback body 6 b via the yarn feeder 70. Thereafter, the yarn feeders 69,70 are each moved to the opposite side to the body 6, for the knittingY,Z of FIG. 5-c.

[0070] In the course 12 at which the knitting of FIG. 5-c is started,the front right sleeve 4 a is transferred to the back upper needle bedBU and, at the same time, the back left sleeve 4 b is transferred to thefront upper needle bed FU. In the course 13, a loop 71 of the front body6 a at a side end thereof on the right sleeve 4 side is transferred tothe back upper needle bed BU and a loop 72 of the back body 6 b at aside end thereof on the left sleeve 5 side is transferred to the frontupper needle bed FU. In the next course 14, after the back needle bed isracked rightward one pitch, the loop 71 of the front body 6 a at theside end is transferred to the front lower needle bed FD and is laidover a loop of the front body 6 a at an inside thereof, to form a doubleloop 73. In parallel with this, the loop 72 of the back body 6 b at theside end is transferred to the back lower needle bed BD and is laid overa loop of the back body 6 b at an inside thereof, to form a double loop74. In the course 15, after the back needle bed is further rackedrightward one pitch, a loop 75 of the front right sleeve 4 a at a sideend thereof on the body side is transferred to the front lower needlebed FD and is laid over the double loop 73 to form a triple loop 76. Inparallel with this, a loop 77 of the back left sleeve 5 b at a side endthereof on the body side is transferred to the back upper needle bed BUand is laid over the double loop 74 to form a triple loop 78. In thecourse 16, the yarn is fed to the triple loop 78 via the yarn feeder 69to form a loop of the next course, and the yarn is fed to the tripleloop 76 via the yarn feeder 70 to form a loop of the next course. In thecourses 13 to 17, the knitting for the back body 6 b to be bound off inthe direction of being away from the left sleeve 5 and for joiningtogether the back left sleeve 5 b and the back body 6 b are performed inparallel. At the same time, the knitting for the front body 6 a to bebound off in the direction of being away from the right sleeve 4 and forjoining together the front right sleeve 4 a and the front body 6 a areperformed in parallel. Subsequently, this knitting is repeated a propernumber of times according to the widths of the machi formed. As a resultof this, the front body 6 a and the front right sleeve are joinedtogether via the machi and the back body 6 b and the back left sleeve 5b are joined together via the machi. In the courses 18 to 24, the sameknitting processes as those in the courses 13 to 17 are taken. In thecourse 25, when the joining of the front body 6 a and the front rightsleeve 4 a and the joining of the back body 6 b and the back left sleeve5 b are both completed, the front right sleeve 4 a retained on the backupper needle bed BU is transferred back to the front lower needle bed FDand, at the same time, the back left sleeve 5 b retained on the frontupper needle bed FU is transferred back to the back lower needle bed BD.After the knitting processes mentioned above, the forming of the machi 3a, 3 b is completed. Subsequently, the knitting in the step D and thesubsequent step of FIG. 1 are performed to knit the sweater 1. In thisembodiment, since the knitting for joining together the front knittedfabric parts and the knitting for joining together the back knittedfabric parts are performed in parallel, the difference in the number ofloops between the front knitted fabric parts and the back knitted fabricparts is not produced. Accordingly, the knitting for joining togetherthe front and back knitted fabric parts can be made without performingthe circle knitting. It should be noted that the circle knitting isapplicable to the joining of the three knitted fabrics. In this case,the knitting W-Z of FIGS. 5-b and 5-c can be made independently or thefront knitted fabric parts and the back knitted fabric parts can be madedifferent in width of the machi.

Third Embodiment

[0071] The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13.In the third embodiment, the tubular knitted fabrics to be joinedtogether are made to circle in the opposite direction in the circleknitting, so that the loops in the joining rejoins of two tubularfabrics are retained on the same needle bed. The third embodimentprovides the method for joining together tubular fabrics by using theknitting in which a tubular fabric to be subsequently joined is boundoff from one side end thereof toward the other side end thereof and theknitting in which the loops in the joining region of another tubularfabric are laid over the loops in the joining region of the sequentiallyjoined tubular fabric sequentially from a side end thereof in such amanner as to join together the front knitted fabric parts and jointogether the back knitted fabric parts. In the third embodiment, theknitting process in which the loops in the adjacent joining regions arelaid over each other and the bind-off process proceed concurrently, andthe process for joining together the joining regions of the frontknitted fabric parts and the process for joining together the joiningregions of the back knitted fabric parts proceed sequentially.

[0072] In FIG. 13, the front knitted fabric parts are depicted by a boldline, and the back knitted fabric parts are depicted by a thin line, asis the case with FIG. 3. The alphabets in FIG. 13 correspond to thealphabets at the points of the sweater of FIG. 1. Although the joiningmethod of the third embodiment is applicable to the joining of twoknitted fabrics as well as three knitted fabrics, description on thejoining of the three knitted fabrics to form the machi 3 a, 3 b in thesweater 1 will be given below.

[0073] In the third embodiment, the circle knitting is performed fromthe step 0 illustrating the state before the start of forming the machi3 a, 3 b to the state of the step 1. The body 6 is made to circle in thecounterclockwise direction, so that the joining region of the rightsleeve is retained on the front needle bed and the joining region of theleft sleeve is retained on the back needle bed. The right sleeve 4 andthe left sleeve 5 are made to circle in the clockwise direction which isopposite to the direction for the body to be circled. In the thirdembodiment, the body 6 is made to circle counterclockwise but the rightand left sleeves 4, 5 are made to circle clockwise, for the reason ofwhich the racking direction of the needle bed required for the right andleft sleeves 4, 5 to circle and the racking direction of the needle bedrequired for the body 6 to circle are different from each other.Consequently, both the right and left sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6 cannotbe made to circle at the same time. Due to this, when the right and leftsleeves 4, 5 are made to circle, the body 6 is retained on either of thefront needle bed and the back needle bed, while on the other hand, whenthe body 6 is made to circle, the right and left sleeves 4, 5 areretained on either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed. As aresult of the right and left sleeves 4, 5 and the body 6 being made tocircle in the manner as mentioned above, the loops in the joining regionof the right sleeve 4 are all retained on the front needle bed and theloops in the joining region of the left sleeve 5 are all retained on theback needle bed. Likewise, the loops in the joining region of the bodyon the right sleeve side are retained on the same front needle bed andthe loops in the joining region of the body on the left sleeve side areretained on the same back needle bed. In the next step 2, the body 6 andthe right and left sleeves 4, 5 are abutted with each other, so that thejoining regions of the sleeves 4, 5 and the joining regions of the body6 are abutted with each other, as is the case with FIG. 4-c.Subsequently, the same knitting U, V as those in the step 12 and thesubsequent steps of the second embodiment are performed in parallel tojoin together the joining regions of the right and left sleeves 4, 5 andthe joining regions of the body, so as to form the machi 3 a, 3 b. Atthe completion of the forming of the machi 3 a, 3 b, the tubular fabricformed by joining together the right and left sleeves 4, 5 and the body6 is put in the clockwise circuled state, as illustrated in the step 3.In the step 4, the circle knitting is performed for making the tubularfabric circle counterclockwise until the boundary 0 between the frontknitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part and the boundary Ptherebetween reach the ends of the tubular fabric, respectively.Subsequently, the step D and the subsequent step of FIG. 1 are performedto knit the sweater 1. In the third embodiment, the knitting U and V ofthe step 2 may be made sequentially by providing the circle knitting andthe joining knitting in parallel. In the case where two knitted fabricsare joined together by using the method of the third embodiment, thecircle knitting is performed in parallel with the joining knitting. Inthe third embodiment as well, the machi 3 a, 3 b formed in the frontknitted fabric portion and the back knitted fabric portion may havedifferent number of loops.

[0074] When the tubular fabrics are joined together in the method of anyone of the first embodiment to the third embodiment, the loops in thejoining region of one tubular fabric to be joined, which region comprisea proper number of wale and are located at the side end portion thereof,and the loops in the joining region of another tubular fabric are boundoff in such a state that the loops located at a near side from theboundary between the front knitted fabric part and the back knittedfabric part are combined with each other and the loops located at a farside therefrom are combined with each other and thereby the machi areformed at the joining point. In the knitted fabric having the machiformed in this manner, when the sleeves 4, 5 are rotated from the body 6centered on the machi 3 a, 3 b in the spread-out direction, the sleeves4, 5 can be allowed to rotate up to a larger angle, as shown in FIG. 14,as compared with the sleeves joined in the conventional, method. Thiscan produce knitwear having a high degree of freedom of motion of thehuman body and comfortableness to wear.

[0075] In addition, when the machi of the front knitted fabric part andthe machi of the back knitted fabric part are made to have differentwidth, a three dimensional silhouette having different peripheral lengthcan be given to the knitwear to thereby produce knitwear suitable toone's figure and comfortable to wear.

[0076] It should be noted that the embodiments are illustrated by way ofexample and no limitation is imposed on the matters, such as theknitting sequence and the control of the yarn feeders, that could beeasily varied or modified by persons skilled in the art based on theirordinal knowledge and equivalent.

CAPABILITIES OF EXPLOITATION IN INDUSTRY

[0077] According to the joining methods for joining together the tubularfabrics, the loops in the final course of one tubular fabric to bejoined and the loops in the final course of the joining region ofanother tubular fabric are laid over each other in such a relation thatthe loops located at a near side from a boundary between the frontknitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combined witheach other and the loops located at a far side therefrom are combinedwith each other. This enables the one tubular fabric to rotate up to alarger angle than usual from the other tubular fabric, centered on themachi, in the direction in which the space between the both knittedfabrics is widened. This can provide knitwear having a high degree offreedom of motion of the human body and comfortableness to wear.

1. A knitted fabric joining method for knitting at least two tubularfabrics, each comprising front and back knitted fabric parts opposite toeach other in front and back, and joining together the at least twotubular fabrics in an overlapping relation by using a flat knittingmachine comprising at least a pair of first and second needle beds,which are extended laterally and confront each other in front and back;each of which has a large number of needles; and at least either ofwhich can be racked laterally to transfer loops between the front andback needle beds, the method comprising a knitted fabric joining stepthat loops of a final course in a joining region of a tubular fabric tobe joined, which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at aside end portion thereof, and loops of a final course in a joiningregion of another tubular fabric are laid over each other in such arelation that the loops located at near side from a boundary between thefront knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combinedwith each other and the loops located at far side therefrom are combinedwith each other, so as to be bound off, whereby a machi is formed at ajoining point of the two tubular fabrics, and an integrated tubularfabric is knitted continuously from that joined tubular fabric.
 2. Theknitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises thesteps: a) that in the process of knitting first and second knittedfabrics in a half-gauge knitting and joining together those knittedfabrics, one of first and second needle beds is racked in a firstdirection with respect to the other needle bed and then a loop of thefirst knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the second needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabricat a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the second knittedfabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, istransferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at the sideend thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting beingrepeated, whereby the first knitted fabric is made to circle in thefirst direction so that the loops in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed, b) that theone needle bed is racked in the first direction and then a loop of thesecond knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the first needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabricat a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the first knittedfabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, istransferred to outside of the loop of the second knitted fabric at aside end thereof retained on the second needle bed, this knitting beingrepeated, whereby the second knitted fabric is made to circle in thefirst direction so that the loops in the joining region of the secondknitted fabric can all be retained on the first needle bed, c) that theloops of the first knitted fabric are all retained on the first needlebed; the loops of the second knitted fabric are all retained on thesecond needle bed; after the one needle bed is racked in the firstdirection so that a loop in the joining region of the first knittedfabric and a loop in the joining region of the second knitted fabric cancorrespond in position to each other in front and back, the loops in thejoining regions of the first and second knitted fabrics are laid overeach other so as to be bound off, and d) that the one needle bed isracked in the second direction and then a loop of the tubular fabricinto which the first knitted fabric and the second knitted fabric arejoined and which is retained on the second needle bed is transferred tooutside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retainedon the first needle bed and a loop of the tubular fabric at a side endthereof opposite to the side end on the first needle bed is transferredto outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof on thesecond needle bed, whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in thesecond direction opposite to the first direction.
 3. The knitted fabricjoining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps: a) thatthe front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric is transferredto the second needle bed and the back knitted fabric part of the secondknitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed, b) that whileeither of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in alateral direction, loops in the joining region of the front knittedfabric part of the first knitted fabric are sequentially laid over loopsof the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric at a sideend thereof, in parallel with loops in the joining region of the frontknitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric being bound off in thedirection of being away from the first knitted fabric, and c) that whileeither of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in thelateral direction, loops in the joining region of the back knittedfabric part of the second knitted fabric are sequentially laid overloops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at aside end thereof, in parallel with loops in the joining region of theback knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric being bound off inthe direction of being away from the second knitted fabric, whereby thefirst knitted fabric and the second knitted fabric are joined together.4. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, whichcomprises the steps: a) that the first knitted fabric, the secondknitted fabric and a third knitted fabric are knitted in such a relationthat the first knitted fabric can be positioned between the second andthird knitted fabrics, and the front knitted fabric part of the secondknitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed and the backknitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric is transferred to thesecond needle bed, b) that while either of the front needle bed and theback needle bed is racked in a first direction, the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of thefirst knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side are bound off inthe direction of being away from the second knitted fabric and theknitting wherein loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabricpart of the second knitted fabric and loops of the front knitted fabricpart of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid overeach other are performed in parallel, and the knitting wherein loops inthe joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the first knittedfabric on the third knitted fabric side are bound off in the directionof being away from the third knitted fabric and the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the thirdknitted fabric and loops of the back knitted fabric part of the firstknitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other areperformed in parallel, c) that the back knitted fabric part of thesecond knitted fabric is transferred to the second needle bed and thefront knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric is transferred tothe first needle bed, and d) that while the either needle bed is rackedin a second direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining regionof the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on thesecond knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being awayfrom the second knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in thejoining region of the back knitted fabric part of the second knittedfabric and loops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knittedfabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed inparallel, and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of thefront knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the thirdknitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away fromthe third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joiningregion of the back knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric andloops of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at aside end thereof are laid over each other performed in parallel at bothends of the first knitted fabric.
 5. The knitted fabric joining methodaccording to claim 1, which comprises the steps: a) that one of firstand second needle beds is racked in a first direction with respect tothe other needle bed and then a loop of the first knitted fabric at aside end thereof on the second knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop ofthe first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the secondneedle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofopposite to the side end on the second knitted fabric side, which loopis retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of theloop located at the side end of the first knitted fabric retained on thefirst needle bed, this knitting being repeated, so that the firstknitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction so that theloops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric can all beretained on the second needle bed, b) that the one needle bed is rackedin the second direction and then a loop of the second knitted fabric ata side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop ofthe second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the secondneedle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereofopposite to the side end on the first knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of the looplocated at the side end of the second knitted fabric retained on thefirst needle bed, this knitting being repeated, so that the secondknitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction so that theloops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can all beretained on the second needle bed, c) that while either of front andback needle beds is racked in the first direction, the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric are bound off inthe direction of being away from the second knitted fabric, and theknitting wherein loops in the joining region of the second knittedfabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the second needle bed are laid over each other are performedto join together the joining region of the second knitted fabric and thejoining region of the first knitted fabric, and d) that while the eitherneedle bed is racked in the second direction, a loop of the firstknitted fabric retained on the first needle bed is transferred tooutside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the second needle bed, and a loop of the first knittedfabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed istransferred to outside of the loop of the first knitted fabric at a sideend thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting beingrepeated, whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in the firstdirection.
 6. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1,which comprises the steps: a) that the first knitted fabric, the secondknitted fabric and a third knitted fabric are knitted in such a relationthat the first knitted fabric can be positioned between the second andthird knitted fabrics; and after one needle bed is racked in a firstdirection with respect to the other needle bed, a loop of the firstknitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side,which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the first needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabricat a side end thereof on the third knitted fabric side, which loop isretained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop ofthe first knitted fabric at a side thereof on the third knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, this knittingbeing-repeated, whereby the first knitted fabric is made to circle inthe first direction so that the loops in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side can be retained on thefirst needle bed and the loops in the joining region of the firstknitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side can be retained on thesecond needle bed, b) that after the needle bed is racked in a seconddirection, the knitting (i) wherein a loop in a joining region of thesecond knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabricside, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred tooutside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the first needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabricat a side end thereof opposite to the first knitted fabric, which loopis retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loopof the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on thesecond needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the secondknitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction so that theloops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can be retainedon the first needle bed; and the knitting (ii) wherein a loop in ajoining region of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof on thefirst knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needlebed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric ata side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of thethird knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the first knittedfabric, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferredto outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereofretained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, wherebythe third knitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction sothat the loops in the joining region of the third knitted fabric can beretained on the second needle bed are performed in parallel, c) thatwhile either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is rackedin the first direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining regionof the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side are boundoff in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric andthe knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the second knittedfabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof arelaid over each other are performed in parallel, and the knitting whereinloops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the thirdknitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away fromthe third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joiningregion of the third knitted fabric and loops of the first knitted fabricat a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed inparallel, and d) that while the either needle bed is racked in thesecond direction, the knitting wherein a loop of the tubular fabric at aside end thereof retained on the first needle bed, the tubular fabricbeing formed by joining together the first, second and third knittedfabrics, is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at aside end thereof retained on the second bed, and a loop of the tubularfabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed istransferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side endthereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated,whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in the second direction. 7.The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 3 or 5, wherein thejoining of the joining regions of the front knitted fabric part and thejoining of the joining regions of the back knitted fabric part areperformed independently and a circle knitting wherein a loop of theknitted fabric having a larger number of loops retained on either of theneedle beds is transferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabricretained on the opposite needle bed is performed in parallel with thejoining knitting.
 8. The knitted fabric joining method according toclaim 4 or 6, wherein the joining between the first knitted fabric andthe second knitted fabric and the joining between the first knittedfabric and the third knitted fabric and/or the joining of the frontknitted fabric parts and the joining of the back knitted fabric partsare performed independently and a circle knitting wherein a loop of theknitted fabric having a larger number of loops retained on either of theneedle beds is transferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabricretained on the opposite needle bed is performed in parallel with thejoining knitting.
 9. The knitted fabric joining method according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of loops in the joining regionof the front knitted fabric part and the number of loops in the joiningregion of the back knitted fabric are made different from each other.10. A knitted fabric formed by joining together at least two tubularfabrics, each comprising front and back knitted fabric parts knittedopposite to each other in front and back, by using a flat knittingmachine comprising at least a pair of first and second needle beds,which are extended laterally and confront each other in front and back;each of which has a large number of needles; and at least either ofwhich can be racked laterally to transfer loops between the front andback needle beds, wherein loops of a final course in a joining region ofa tubular fabric to be joined, which comprise a proper number of waleand are located at a side end portion thereof, and loops of a finalcourse in a joining region of another tubular fabric are laid over eachother in such a relation that the loops located at near side from aboundary between the front knitted fabric part and the back knittedfabric part are combined with each other and the loops located at farside therefrom are combined with each other, and are bound off, wherebya machi is formed in the knitted fabric and an integrated tubular fabricknitted continuously from that joined tubular fabric.
 11. The knittedfabric according to claim 10, wherein the at least two tubular fabricsare a right leg part and a left leg part of a legwear.
 12. The knittedfabric according to claim 10, wherein the at least two tubular fabricsare a body and right and left sleeves of a sweater.